Accurate modeling and simulation of parallel interconnection in high-speed integrated circuits

The evaluation of the time-domain performance of interconnection lines is becoming increasingly more important in the analysis and design of high-speed integrated circuits. An accurate computer model for n coupled microstrip lines is developed for circuit simulation. Modal analysis is applied to decouple the n coupled line system into n independent lines and the characteristic solution of the lossy transmission line equation is modeled into a simple time-varying equivalent circuit. This model has been implemented into a circuit simulator, called iSMILE, that significantly reduces the model development time. Simulation results on propagation delay times and crosstalks are presented for the case of high-speed GaAs HEMT (high-electron-mobility transistor) integrated circuits.<>